Our view: Review of fireworks rules timely

By the Midland Daily News

Published 9:00 am, Thursday, July 18, 2013

Midland City Attorney Jim Branson plans to meet with city staff, including police, fire and planning department representatives, to determine if the city fireworks ordinance should be tweaked to prohibit use between midnight and 8 a.m. during national holidays. The current ordinance stipulates fireworks can be ignited, discharged or used the day before, the day of or the day after certain holidays, with no restrictions on time of day.

Although one city councilman said he hadn’t heard of many complaints to police over the Fourth of July holiday, he said he had heard some concerns from constituents.

The ordinance, which was discussed at Monday’s city council meeting, has raised concerns from posters on the Daily News’ Facebook page as well as the Daily News’ website, www.ourMidland.com

Some posters are concerned with the noise interrupting sleep or causing stress to pets, and others were worried about safety, both personal and property.

“I’ve watched neighbors shoot fireworks off towards trees,” one poster wrote. “I’ve seen and heard firework shrapnel fall onto the roof of the carport in between our two apartment buildings, not to mention the cars not under cover that were hit. Neighbors have lit fireworks in the road, and cars coming around the corner have no idea they could be running over a lit projectile. Even when I’ve spoken with my neighbors, their answer is always the same “the law says I can.” The ignorance to this ordinance is astounding.”

Other posters stressed common sense.

“The legalization of fireworks is fine, but the total lack of common sense by some individuals when using them is mind blowing. There should be some restrictions on their use in and around municipalities, large or small, and in heavily populated residential areas.”

Now is a good time to review the ordinance to determine if these concerns represent a small majority of the city’s constituency or if it is a larger issue than first believed.

If you would like to sound off, here is a list of email addresses for city council members:

Tom Adams, Ward 1, tadams@midland-mi.org

Maureen Donker, Mayor, Ward 2, mdonker@midland-mi.org

J. Dee Brooks, Ward 3, jbrooks@midland-mi.org

Diane Brown, Ward 4, dbrown@midland-mi.org

Marty Wazbinski, Mayor Pro Tem, Ward 5, mwazbinski@midland-mi.org

People also can express their opinions by emailing city attorney Jim Branson at jbranson@midland-mi.org or calling his office at (989) 837-3395.